My cigars are full of flakes - look at photos and please help!

**whitedog** · 03-16-2009, 08:41 AM

Hello!
I have quite a serious problem. My cigars are full of flakes - white and hard. I don't know, what it can be, but I am afraid that it's mold. What do you think? Look at the pictures and write.
Flakes are also on the labels - black and yellow. What it can be? I am desperate. I have a full humidor of new cigars!

**bigwhiteash** · 03-16-2009, 08:48 AM

I've never seen anything like that!

Do they scrape off easily?

**whitedog** · 03-16-2009, 09:01 AM

Yes, scrape is OK, I think.

I have got just three types of cigars in humidor:
Ramon Allones Specially Selected 22 pieces
Partagas Lusitanias 3 pieces
Saint Luis Rey Regios 23 pieces
White flakes are only at Ramon Allones cigars, the black and white on labels are also at Saint Luis Rey.
What it can be?:(

**DeeDubya** · 03-16-2009, 09:21 AM

Probably one of these from before harvesting.
Leaf Spot or Weather Fleck. Neither affects the taste, only appearance.

**whitedog** · 03-16-2009, 09:32 AM

But, the flakes were not there about two weeks ago...
I have got it home for about one month.

**craig** · 03-16-2009, 09:57 AM

Never seen that either, but the bands reminds me of something.

What kind of humidifying device(s) are you using, and are you using distilled water in it/them?

**Silencei2** · 03-16-2009, 09:58 AM

That is really interesting. I wish I could help but I got no suggestions. Good luck finding out what they are and a cure for them.

**whitedog** · 03-16-2009, 10:06 AM

I have this humidor:

this humidifiers:

this solution:

and also technical distilled water.

**drew_goring** · 03-16-2009, 12:41 PM

Looks like water damage to me. Especially on that band.

I am thinking maybe when you filled the humidifier there was a bit of excess water on it and it dripped onto your smokes.

I would recommend you toss out the solution and the foam and get some beads. They worked great for me before I switched to active humidification. Much lower maintenance compared to the foam humidifier that I started with.

www.heartfeltindustries.com
www.cigarmony.com

Two great places to pick up beads or "The Puck".

**craig** · 03-16-2009, 12:57 PM

Hmm.
- any deposits on the green foam inside that humidifier? (You should be able to pop the gold plastic off.)
- the white round things, what does the tobacco look like underneath after you flake one off?
- when you flake them off, do the white round things crumble, or do they have some structure to them?
- did any of them fall off without your help?
- does the center of the white round things look different? Are they flat or do they have raised parts or any fuzziness? (you'll need a lupe to see)

- any pattern to the white spots or their density? More on the cigars on the top, more on the cigars at the bottom, location in the humidor, any on the feet, etc.

- the SLR label pic is too fuzzy to tell what's there.
- the RA label - is the green what is left after the white thing has flaked off?

and:
- what RH are the cigars stored at, and
- have you calibrated that hygrometer? (salt test or hot towel or both)

I'm thinking the same thing as Drew ...

**cinda** · 03-16-2009, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by drew_goring

Looks like water damage to me. Especially on that band.

I am thinking maybe when you filled the humidifier there was a bit of excess water on it and it dripped onto your smokes.

I would recommend you toss out the solution and the foam and get some beads. They worked great for me before I switched to active humidification. Much lower maintenance compared to the foam humidifier that I started with.

www.heartfeltindustries.com
www.cigarmony.com

Two great places to pick up beads or "The Puck".

I think drew is right. It isn't mold and if it's bloom its bloom that got wet. But the tell tale sign is the green on the wrapper. Test a wrapper get it wet with what you use to hydrate your cigars and see what happens when it dries off.

**kevin7** · 03-16-2009, 06:55 PM

Mold on the cigars

looks like PG stains on the band

**logan37** · 03-16-2009, 09:38 PM

I have no idea what you contracted there, but it looks like it itches.

**cinda** · 03-17-2009, 05:42 AM

Originally Posted by kevin7

Mold on the cigars

looks like PG stains on the band

whats pg?

**kevin7** · 03-17-2009, 06:01 AM

That god awful crap people use with distilled water. P something - glycol

**whitedog** · 03-17-2009, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by kevin7

Mold on the cigars

looks like PG stains on the band

yes, I use this Propylene Glycol Solution. Is it bad?

**NullSmurf** · 03-17-2009, 11:23 AM

Drew got it. Water spots. They're harmless. Smoke em.

**CAJUNBLAZE** · 03-18-2009, 08:38 AM

As others has stated, get rid of the solution and foam. Get some beads!

Welcome to the boards.

Rich

**pmp** · 03-20-2009, 03:11 PM

Better yet, get some crystals. Beads are a PITA inside desktops.

Crystals are easy and work great.

BTW, I recently ran into a box of jl pcs that had green/black areas on the band. I was told on another forum that it was the bronze pigment inside the wrapper oxidizing in the presence of water. So in other words no big deal they must have gotten a little to damp at some point.

As long as there is no sign of mold you are good.

**NullSmurf** · 03-20-2009, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by pmp

Better yet, get some crystals. Beads are a PITA inside desktops.

Crystals are easy and work great.

BTW, I recently ran into a box of jl pcs that had green/black areas on the band. I was told on another forum that it was the bronze pigment inside the wrapper oxidizing in the presence of water. So in other words no big deal they must have gotten a little to damp at some point.

As long as there is no sign of mold you are good.

Guess we're going to disagree on this too. Beads are a PITA versus crystals? Are you referring to kitty litter? Also, would you mind finding me a link where someone is discussing the wrapper pigment oxidizing?

Who are you, really?